Lassen Volcanic National Park with kids

When my children were about nine months old, my best friend, Chrissy, and I thought it would be a good idea to strap them to our chests and go hiking in Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Turns out, it wasn’t a good idea, it was a GREAT idea!  We had a wonderful day exploring the geothermal features of the park while introducing the kids to the first of many National Park adventures. Lassen is off the beaten path but well worth the drive. Here are some of my tips for visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park with kids:

WHEN TO GO:  The park is snowed in until June so my recommendation is to plan for a mid-June to mid-September visit unless you are in to snowshoeing.   We went in June and while all the roads were plowed, there was still quite a bit of snow on the ground which was a surprise to us. After all, we were wearing t-shirts and shorts!

WHERE TO STAY: We stayed near the town of Chester, in a cabin by the shore of Lake Almanor.  It was close enough to drive back and forth to the park every day, but much more practical for us than camping inside the park with a couple of infants.  Lake Almanor is a popular summer vacation destination and there are plenty of cabins for rent in the area.  If your family loves to camp, there are 6 campgrounds (3 of them are group sites) within the park. 

WHAT TO DO: I think every trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park should include a hike to Bumpass Hell.  It is a beautiful 3 mile hike over the side of a mountain and into a stinky, hydrothermal wonderland filled with steaming pools, bubbling mud pots, and multicolored streams.  Make sure to keep your children on the boardwalk so they don’t break the fragile crust on the ground surrounding the features. Mr Bumpass made the mistake of walking too close to the features and slipped through the crust, scalding his leg in the process!!!

Those with older children who are up to the challenge can take the 5 mile RT hike to the top of Lassen Peak.  On May 22, 1915, Mt Lassen experienced a large volcanic eruption and the effects of the volcanic eruption can still be seen throughout the Devastated Area.  Views from the trail leading up to Mt Lassen are nothing short of spectacular.

Another fun (and short!) hike is to Cold Boiling Lake. This trail is only .8 miles RT and leads to a lake with gas bubbles coming up which give it it’s boiling appearance.  For an even more incredible boiling lake experience, take the easy 3 mile RT hike to Boiling Springs Lake where the water temperature is 125 degrees due to a number of hot springs under the surface of the water.

This post is featured on Trekaroo’s Spotlight Thursday. Click on the link below and see who else is playing along!

Family Vacation
Redding

Cabrillo National Monument

I love that end of the earth feeling. It usually involves standing at the edge of a cliff that drops off into a never ending sea full of churning blue water. I can’t help but imagine what it must have felt like to think that the earth was flat and the drop into oblivion was just on the edge of the horizon. What a scary and finite concept.  Cabrillo National Monument is a great place to let your mind get swept back to the days of conquistadores, Spanish occupation, and early exploration.

 

We decided to head over to the tide pools for the first part of our Cabrillo NM tour. I had planned our day around low tide so we would have the best opportunity to view sea life. Unfortunately, and tragically, the Chilean earthquake had hit the day before. Between the tsunami warning and the massive storm that had hit the day prior, the minus tide ceased to exist. The seas were incredibly rough and most of the tide pools were inaccessible. That being said, I felt the rough seas added to the rugged feel that Point Loma possesses.

 

We followed the trail that hugs the cliffs and stood at cliffs edge, admiring the swirling waters below. The scenery reminded me a bit of Point Reyes in Northern California and served as a nice reminder of what the San Diego coast once was.

We did manage to make it down to beach level and spot a few critters that had washed ashore. Since it was the weekend (and the first warm day in over a week), there were crowds down around the tide pools. I think if the tide was lower and people were able to spread out a bit more, it would have had a much more intimate feel.

 

Next we headed over to the visitor’s center to get our National Park passport book stamped and learn about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Cabrillo was the first European to set foot on the West Coast way back in 1542, and historians believe those first footsteps were made on Point Loma.

The views from this area, including the actual Cabrillo monument are filled with vistas of the San Diego Bay and the city beyond. 

 

The visitor center provides educational videos, a small museum, and replicas of 16th century armor for children of all ages to try. My son thought the 16th century sword was particularly cool and wasted no time knocking his sister in the head with it. Luckily, she was wearing a 16th century replica helmet…

 

If you would like to visit Cabrillo National Monument (and you should) check out the park’s website here. We didn’t have time to visit the Old Point Loma Lighthouse (the park closes at 5PM due to it proximity to the naval base at Point Loma) but tours are offered frequently. It will be high on my priority list for our next visit.

For more fantastic travel photos, check out Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday here.

Family Vacation
San Diego

Road Trip Day 22- Bryce Canyon NP Rainbow Point

Rainbow Point is where the road ends in Bryce Canyon. The journey to roads end is filled with amazing viewpoints (13 to be exact), rich colors, and sculptures that only wind can carve. Our journey included an actual rainbow which I found to be quite apropos. 

At 9115 feet, Rainbow Point offers incredible views of the surrounding landscape. We arrived just before sunset and our plan was to hang out on the viewing platform for a few minutes before we got back in the car and headed down the 18 mile road back to the park’s entrance.  Then I saw the sign for the Bristlecone Loop.

  

It had been a long day and we had already hiked portions of the Rim Trail and the Navajo Trail but the I just had to do the Bristlecone Loop. I had read about the bristlecone pines many times before and always marveled at these “oldest living things” but I had never actually seen one for myself. The loop is only a mile long and after some coaxing I convinced my husband to help me hurry our kids down the path so we could see one of these amazing trees for ourselves. Bristlecones live where most trees wouldn’t stand a chance at survival. They prefer exposed dry rocky slopes and grow at incredibly slow rates. The oldest, somewhere in the White Mountains of California, is thought to be 4,765 years old. These trees have lived through so much history. One can only wonder what those gnarled pines have seen as they stood out on cliff’s edge.

That evening we saw the Bristlecone Pines. I stood in silence as I gazed out at these unassuming trees.  I watched my children, so young, run and play around something so very old. It was a small moment in the lives of those trees but large moment in mine.

If you would like to see more amazing travel photos, check out Delicious Baby's Photo Friday here.

Things To Do
Bryce

Road Trip Day 22- Bryce Canyon NP Navajo Loop Trail

Its the stuff Wiley E. Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons are made of. Rocky spires, dramatic cliffs, and towering canyons all painted with dramatic shades of red. Even the road to the park has a dramatic flair to it with drive through arches and brightly colored boulders.

An 18 mile scenic drive takes you along the length of Bryce’s many amphitheaters and scenic viewpoints. Our first stop was Sunset Point. Sunset Point is a viewing area along the Rim Trail and its magical. You walk out towards what appears to be the end of the earth on to discover a vast amphitheater filled with hoodoos. “Wow”. That’s all I could say when I first saw it all. Wow.

I immediately wanted to climb down to the bottom and stand amongst those hoodoos. The Navajo Loop Trail was the path to the bottom and the bottom was 500 feet below us. As we started the downhill portion we were immediately told that we were crazy for bringing a couple of two year olds on the hike. Naysayers warned us that the climb up was much too hard for toddlers. I smiled politely and told them our kids were pros. They shook their heads and mumbled under their breath. Yes, the trail down is steep and there are lots of edges but if you keep your kids on the inside of the trail and hold their hands, they CAN do it. We went from one switch back to the next until we were suddenly surrounded by steep narrow canyons carved by eons of wind.

Trees sprouted up in the narrow canyons, reserving their needles for their tops  where the light was plentiful. We walked from one slot canyon to the next, amazed at just how high those canyon walls were. the view from the bottom was just as incredible as the top. I remember hearing somewhere that an early settler once said “its a hell of a place to lose a cow”. I can’t even imagine. Without the trail, I never would have found my way out.

Eventually, we had to begin our climb back to the top. At first we jogged but as things got steeper, the only one who still had a skip in their step was Mari.

Towards the end, Paul picked the kids up and ran a couple switchbacks just to speed things along. Ben was much more interested in throwing rocks off the switchbacks than walking up them. 1.3 miles later, we had completed our loop and conquered another hike.

We gazed out into the Bryce Amphitheater once more before getting back in the car and heading further into the park. I pondered what it must have been like to be the first settlers to stumble upon this place. We knew what was coming but they had no idea…

For more fabulous travel photos check out Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday here.

Things To Do
Bryce

Road Trip Day 20- Grand Teton National Park- Inspiration Point

It all started with a boat trip across Jenny Lake. First there were sprinkles. Then, just as we picked up full speed the torrent began. Stinging rain hit our faces as we did our best to shield the children. It was freezing and we were soaked. And then, as quickly as it started, it was over. We pulled up to the dock and felt the warmth of the sun dry our hair and bring smiles back to everyone’s faces. We had a climb ahead of us. We were hiking through Cascade Canyon to Hidden Falls.

The scenery was amazing. As we walked up the trail the Tetons seemed to almost be within reach. Maybe if we stretched our arms a little bit further we could just touch them. Their jagged peaks rise above the landscape with such prestige it was hard to keep our eyes on the trail in front of us. The kids seemed to have an extra skip in their step as the wound their way up the side of the mountain. Maybe they knew they were on their way to someplace special.

 

We reached a bridge that crossed a rushing creek and headed towards the sound of falling water. Hidden Falls suddenly appeared into view, truly hidden from the main trail. They were beautiful, the weather was beautiful and we were feeling ambitious. After letting the kids play on some rocks near the falls viewing area, we decided to take a chance and head further up the trail.

 

A few people who were coming back down advised us not to take the trek. They said there was no way a two year old could make it to the top. I said they didn’t know my two year olds. We started the climb, rising a total of 417 feet to Inspiration Point. Yes, it was a big climb but my kids never complained and truly loved every step they took up that trail. Towards the end there were some switch back that weren’t for the faint of heart but we kept our kids on the inside of the trail and they did just fine.

When we reached Inspiration Point, elevation 7200 feet, we were met with a round of applause.  A tour group applauded my kids for making the climb and everyone reached out to give Mari and Ben high fives. I was so proud. I try to never underestimate my children’s abilities. My son, who spent a year in physical therapy, just climbed a mountain. My daughter, loves the outdoors as much as her mom, practically ran up the side of that mountain.

  

We took our time and enjoyed the view. My kids sat on the giant boulders and gazed down at the lake below. They pointed to the tiny dot of a boat that they had cruised in on. Then we said our farewell to Inspiration Point and headed back on down the mountain. That day, my kids were my inspiration. And I think they may have inspired a few others along the way.

If you would like to see more fabulous travel photos check out Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday here.

Things To Do
Jackson

Road Trip Day 20- Sunrise Over Yellowstone

Sunrise in Yellowstone is truly a special time. The animals are active, the lighting is gorgeous, and the people are scarce. Dawn is a great time to enjoy the beauty of our nation’s first National Park. These pictures were taken by my husband, Paul, at dawn in Yellowstone.

 

Check out more amazing travel photos at Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday here.

Alcatraz

The Rock. No not the movie that my husband insists we sit through every time it pops up on cable. I am talking about the ominous  island out in the San Francisco Bay that held some of the most notorious criminals of its day; Alcatraz.

Alcatraz closed it doors as a federal prison in 1963 and opened its doors as a member of the National Park Service in 1972. Now visitors can get up close and personal with the very cell blocks that Al Capone and the Birdman once spent their days. I strongly encourage visitors to buy their tickets ahead of time because the tours do sell out quickly. The only way to reach Alcatraz is by ferry and the trip out there is an adventure in itself. The day we went, we left the blue skies of the pier and headed towards the fog shrouded prison. I was glad that the weather got dreary as we got closer. It only added to the atmosphere.

During the day you can take self guided audio tours. The audio tour is quite comprehensive and very interesting. It was narrated by people who had lived on Alcatraz at one time, whether it be the prisoners who were locked in its cells or the people who helped run the facilities. We had fun posing Ben and Mari (who were infants at the time) behind the cells bars. I think kids old enough to listen to headphones for an extended period of time would really enjoy this tour. Its hard not to get excited about a place so filled with lore and mystery.

In addition to the cell block tour, you should take time to explore the Alcatraz Gardens, check out the multitude of sea birds (Alcatraz is a bird sanctuary) and take in the amazing views. Expect to spend at least 2.5 hours on the island. Keep in mind that there is no food service at Alcatraz so be sure to pack snacks for little ones. Weather is extremely unpredictable in San Francisco so dress in layers. You could arrive at Alcatraz when it is sunny and warm and leave in cold and windy weather. If you would like more information on Alcatraz click here.

Things To Do
San Francisco